How to write about sound

How to write about sound:

1. Remember that there are two types of sound. Digetic and non-digetic. Digetic is sound that can be heard by the characters as well as the audience such as dialouge or an action such as a door closing. This can also be music which is playing from a radio that the characters would recognise. Non-digetic sound is that in which only the audience would be able to hear. This may be music that has been added to a scene which wouldn't be played to the characters.

2. Pick out key points of any dialouge that could relate to the clip based on what representation you have to write about. For example if the representation is age, and a character said something in relation to this, then use it as an example of sound.

3. Listen for any music that is added to a scene. Music is added to create emotions during certain scenes. Remember that generally certain types of music are chosen for certain particular types of scenes. An action film tends to have fast rhythmatic music, whilst romantic films have more orchestrial pieces playing.






How sound is used to represent age in this clip:

In this clip, both digetic and non-digetic sound is used represent age via the use of binary opposites. When the scene begins with a young boy who is getting ready in a changing room. During this time, non-digetic music is played which almost sounds like a heartbeat as a drum is played in a steady rhythem. The music also seems quite mysterious and doesn't really give away much about what is going to happen, so may have been used to entice the audience into wanting to find out what is going to happen. However the music is quite mellow and mysterious. As the boy is shown to be on his own, this signifies that he might be feeling alone and in a different world from everyone else as the music takes the audience into a calm state. This would represent this boy as being young and vulnerable to the outside world.

Digetic sound is also used to represent age in this clip. One scene which shows this is when Harry walks out of the changing rooms to join the rest of the class. The sound of laughter and comments such as "skinny" and "piggy". These are comments that are not nice and would be considered as bullying. People responding with laughter seems immature and maybe classed as stereotypical for someone of this age group to do in society. As a result of these comments, Harry goes under water and remains there. During this time non-digetic sounds of random fuzzy sea like noises are played as well as muffled sounds of voices. This demonstrates that Harry is trying to escape from the voices he hears and block them out, whilst the sea noises create an eerie atmosphere to the scene, or the feeling of being alone and in a spacious place. The use of this sound makes the audience feel what Harry would want to feel. Which would be the feeling of being able to block out what we don't want to hear.  This shows the pressure that Harry faces as a young boy, and how he feels he has to escape being bullied. He may represent many other young people like Harry who find being bullied difficult. And that some young people feel pressured by others even of the same age group.